Cottonwood Bud Oil

Last year I posted a lot of information about cottonwood buds. Well, it's that time of year again. Right now the buds are at the perfect point for harvest.

The buds must be collected before the leaves emerge; they contain a sticky orange resin. Cold days are best for collecting the buds; anything below freezing will do. Harvest from the branches you can reach, but take selectively, a few here, a few there, so as not to damage the tree by preventing entire branches from leafing out.

Once you have collected the buds, you can either soak them immediately, or they can be dried or frozen for later. If you choose to dry them, make sure they are spread out in a single layer on a board or cookie sheet, as they will tend to mold pretty quickly if left in heaps and allowed to retain moisture. Freezing really is the best way to preserve them if you're not ready to make your oil.

There are several ways to extract the resin from the buds for making Balm of Gilead salve. One is done by slowly simmering the buds in hot oil to release their resin, and the second, which takes longer but yields a slightly more potent finished product, involves placing the buds in a jar and covering them with oil for a period of several months to a year.

To make cottonwood bud oil, fill a mason jar or crock halfway with buds, cover with olive oil and set aside. A sunny windowsill or warm spot in the kitchen speeds up the process. Leave in place for 6 months or up to1 year.

Once your oil is ready, it can rubbed into the skin or incorporated into a smooth, rejuvenating salve.

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